Knee-desk and reading-stand



(No Model.) 7

A. R. COOPER.

KNEE DESK AND READING STAND. No. 527,108. Patented Oct. 9,1894.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANNA R. COOPER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

KNEE-DESK AOND READING-STAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 527,108, dated October 9, 1894. Application filed March 19,. 1892. Serial No. 425,640. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANNA R. COOPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of supports which when opened will fit over theknee and raise the desk and hold it firmly in a suitable position for use, andwhich when folded or closed will form one side of a receptacle or case for holding writing or othermaterials; second, to provide in combination with the foregoing a reading stand, the metal corners or themetal ornament at the top of the knee desk being so fashioned as to form both a ring from which the desk may be suspended when carried and at the same time a spring for holding a book or paper in position for reading or copying. I attain these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom'view of the knee desk as it appears when closed for carrying; Fig. 2, a bottom view of the desk when the supports A A are opened; Fig. 3, a top view of the desk when closed for carrying, showing the metal ornament at the top B, which is so fashioned as to form both a spring-and carrying ring as hereinafter described; Fig. 4, a side view of the desk as it appears when used as a reading stand.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The table or plate D, which may beof any suitable shape or material, forms the top of the knee desk and together with the end and side pieces a. a. a. a. form five sides of a box or receptacle; and the supportsAA when closed "are secured by a catch and form the sixth side of a carrying receptacle, as hereinafter described.

The legs or supports A A preferably have the lower side curved or hollowed so as to fit the knee, and hold the desk firmly in position when in use. They are fastened to the plate D or to the end pieces a. a. by a hinge, pivot or other suitable device and when opened are held in position by a spring and catch F. (See Fig. 2.) Said supports A A are preferably made in a solid piece and of the same material as the table or plate D, but

the substance of which they are formed is immaterial and they may be formed of wire, in which case the wire should be so bent as to follow the outlines of the supports A A and extended so as to form in one piece the supports and the spring F.

The desk may be made of wood, paper, leather, metal or other suitable material and of any shape that may be devised, though the forms of a chatelaine and rectangular box would seem the most convenient for carrying.

The metal ornament at the top B, which may also be extended around the side to form a protection for the corners, is formed with a spring F, one end of which is fixed in an end piece a of the desk, and the other end secured to the other part B, which part'B is preferably an ornamental plate, as shown in corners of the desk, as indicated in Fig. 1.

The eyes of the spring F form convenient rings from which the desk may be suspended when worn as a chatelaine, and the ornament B serves as a clamp to hold a book or paper on the desk, when the same is used as a reading or transcribing stand.

I am aware that prior to my invention tables have been manufactured with folding or adjustable legs. I therefore do not claim such feature, but

What Ldo claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'1. The combination in a combined knee desk and carrying receptacle, of a top which forms the desk, side andend pieces thereon which together with said top form a box, and adjustable supports on said end pieces which when folded form the bottom of the box, substantially as described.

2. In a combined knee desk and' carrying receptacle, the combination of a top which forms the desk, side and end pieces thereon which together with said top form a box, adjustable supports on said end pieces curved at their free edge to fit the knee and adapted to form the bottom of the box when folded, a clamping plate on said top adapted to hold articles thereon, and a spring for said plate formed with an eye adapted for the suspension of the desk,- substantially as described.

ANNA R. COOPER.

Witnesses WILLIAM, ERDMAN, MARY AJYOUNG.

IOO 

